Cessna 182G accident near Truth Or Conseq, New Mexico, April 5, 2003
On April 5, 2003 at about 10:38 pm local time, a Cessna 182G, registered N3749U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Truth Or Conseq, New Mexico (Truth Or Consequences airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll which resulted in impact with terrain. Contributing factors include, the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision making, the crosswind and gusty wind conditions, the ditch, and the berm.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 2003 · about 10:38 pm local time
- Place
- Truth Or Conseq, New Mexico · Truth Or Consequences · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182G · all 182Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3749U · no longer on the register · serial 18255149
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that when landing on runway 31, he encountered a "strong" gust of wind. He attempted to regain control, but the airplane departed the left side of the runway, went across a ditch, and struck a berm. The impact with the berm collapsed the nose landing gear, buckled the firewall, and displaced the right main landing gear. The pilot stated that at the time of the accident the wind was 220 degrees at 31 knots gusting to 45 knots.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,028 hours in all; 275 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,028 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 9, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,034.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 6, 2002; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 0470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E80 Belen NM at 9:30 pm
- Destination: TCS Truth Or Conseq NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 5,599 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 20 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.71 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from TCS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.